Deployable roof containment system and method

ABSTRACT

One general aspect includes a deployable containment system for a vehicle roof panel, the system including: a pair of guide channels proximate to an opening through the vehicle roof panel, each guide channel of the pair having a first end and a second end; a housing mounted to the first end of the pair of guide channels. The deployable containment system also includes a shield configured to deploy from the housing and travel along the pair of guide channels so as to cover at least a portion of the opening. The deployable containment system also includes an actuator disposed proximate to the pair of guide channels, the actuator configured to deploy the shield from the housing after a deployment event.

Vehicle rollover is caused by exceeding the critical roll angle for aparticular vehicle. The roll angle being the function of the suspensionof the vehicle, the vehicle's loading condition and other vehiclecharacteristics and dynamic conditions. Occupant ejection is a majorcause of injury and death in rollover crashes. In NHTSA's field dataanalysis of rollover occupant ejection in support of FMVSS226, 47% ofoccupants fatally injured in rollovers were completely ejected fromtheir vehicles. The analysis also found that avoiding complete ejectionis associated with a 64% decrease in risk of fatality. Therefore, it isdesirable to produce a system which will contain occupants within thevehicle interior when it rolls over.

SUMMARY

One general aspect includes a deployable containment system for avehicle roof panel, the system including: a pair of guide channelsproximate to an opening through the vehicle roof panel, each guidechannel of the pair having a first end and a second end; a housingmounted to the first end of the pair of guide channels. The deployablecontainment system also includes a shield configured to deploy from thehousing and travel along the pair of guide channels so as to cover atleast a portion of the opening. The deployable containment system alsoincludes an actuator disposed proximate to the pair of guide channels,the actuator configured to deploy the shield from the housing after adeployment event. Other embodiments of this aspect may includecorresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programsrecorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured toperform the actions of the system.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Thedeployable containment system further includes one or more lockingmechanisms configured to lock the shield after having traveled adistance along the pair of guide channels. The deployable containmentsystem where one of the one or more locking mechanisms includes aninflatable tube, inflator device, and anchor point. The deployablecontainment system where the actuator includes a spring to deploy theshield from the housing. The deployable containment system where theactuator includes pyrotechnics to deploy the shield from the housing.The deployable containment system where the shield is wound into a rollshape around a winding shaft while in the housing and, upon deployment,the shield is drawn from the winding shaft to travel along the pair ofguide channels so as to cover at least the portion of the opening. Thedeployable containment system where the deployment event is anindication that the vehicle rollover sensing system has predicted arollover event.

One general aspect includes a deployable containment system for avehicle roof panel, the system including: a pair of guide channelsproximate to an opening through the vehicle roof panel, each guidechannel of the pair having a first end and a second end; a first housingmounted to the first end of the pair of guide channels; a second housingmounted to the second end of the pair of guide channels. The deployablecontainment system also includes a first shield configured to deployfrom the first housing and travel along the pair of guide channels so asto cover a first portion of the opening. The deployable containmentsystem also includes a second shield configured to deploy from thesecond housing and travel along the pair of guide channels so as tocover a second portion of the opening. The deployable containment systemalso includes a first actuator disposed proximate to the first end ofthe pair of guide channels, the first actuator configured to deploy thefirst shield from the first housing after a deployment event. Thedeployable containment system also includes a second actuator disposedproximate to the second end of the pair of guide channels, the secondactuator configured to deploy the second shield from the second housingafter the deployment event. Other embodiments of this aspect may includecorresponding computer systems, apparatus, and computer programsrecorded on one or more computer storage devices, each configured toperform the actions of the methods.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Thedeployable containment system further includes one or more lockingmechanisms configured to lock the first and second shields after each ofthe first and second shields has traveled a distance along the pair ofguide channels. The deployable containment system where at least one ofthe one or more locking mechanisms includes an inflatable tube, inflatordevice, and anchor point. The deployable containment system furtherincludes: a first scissor lever mechanism disposed between the pair ofguide channels proximate to the first end, the first scissor levermechanism connected to the first shield, the first scissor levermechanism configured to extend along the pair of guide channels so as tosupport travel of the first shield along the pair of guide channels tocover the first portion of the opening. The deployable containmentsystem may also include a second scissor lever mechanism disposedbetween the pair of guide channels proximate to the second end, thesecond scissor lever mechanism connected to the second shield, thesecond scissor lever mechanism configured to extend along the pair ofguide channels so as to support travel of the second shield along thepair of guide channels to cover the second portion of the opening. Thedeployable containment system where: the first actuator includes aspring to deploy the first shield from the first housing, and the secondactuator includes a spring to deploy the second shield from the secondhousing. The deployable containment system where: the first actuatorincludes pyrotechnics to deploy the first shield from the first housing,and the second actuator includes pyrotechnics to deploy the secondshield from the second housing. The deployable containment system wherethe deployment event is an indication that the vehicle rollover sensingsystem predicted a rollover event. The deployable containment systemwhere: the first shield is a plurality of flap sections that overlapwhile in the first housing and, upon deployment, travel along the pairof guide channels so as to spread out in a shingled manner to cover thefirst portion of the opening, and the second shield is a plurality offlap sections that overlap while in the second housing and, upondeployment, travel along the pair of guide channels so as to spread outin a shingled manner to cover the second portion of the opening. Thedeployable containment system where: the first shield is folded in aZ-type configuration while in the first housing and, upon deployment,the first shield folds travel along the pair of guide channels so as tospread out in a planar manner to cover the first portion of the opening,and the second shield is folded in a Z-type configuration while in thesecond housing and, upon deployment, the second shield folds travelalong the pair of guide channels so as to spread out in a planar mannerto cover the second portion of the opening. The deployable containmentsystem where: the first shield is wound into a roll shape around a firstwinding shaft while in the first housing and, upon deployment, the firstshield is drawn from the winding shaft to travel along the pair of guidechannels so as to cover the first portion of the opening, and the secondshield is wound into a roll shape around a second winding shaft while inthe second housing and, upon deployment, the second shield is drawn fromthe second winding shaft to travel along the pair of guide channels soas to cover the second portion of the opening.

One general aspect includes a method to deploy a containment system of avehicle, the method including: providing a vehicle having a RollOversensor (ROS), the ROS configured to sense when the vehicle ispotentially in a rollover event; providing a controller located in thevehicle, the controller configured to determine that the vehicle is inthe rollover event and transmit a deployment command; providing adeployable containment system installed onto a roof panel of thevehicle, where the containment system includes: a pair of guide channelsdisposed in parallel and proximate to an opening through the vehicleroof panel, each guide channel of the pair having a first end and asecond end; a first housing mounted to the first end of the pair ofguide channels, a second housing mounted to the second end of the pairof guide channels, a first shield configured to deploy from the firsthousing and travel along the pair of guide channels so as to cover afirst portion of the opening; a second shield configured to deploy fromthe second housing and travel along the pair of guide channels so as tocover a second portion of the opening; a first actuator disposedproximate to the first end of the pair of guide channels, the firstactuator configured to deploy the first shield from the first housingafter a rollover event; a second actuator disposed proximate to thesecond end of the pair of guide channels, the second actuator configuredto deploy the second shield from the second housing after the rolloverevent; sensing, via the ROS, that the vehicle is potentially in therollover event; transmitting, via the ROS, rollover information to thecontroller; determining, via the controller, that the vehicle is in therollover event; transmitting, via the controller, a deployment commandto the first actuator and the second actuator; deploying, via the firstactuator, the first shield from the first housing after the rolloverevent is detected; allowing the first shield to travel along the pair ofguide channels to cover the first portion of the opening; deploying, viathe second actuator, the second shield from the second housing after therollover event is detected; and allowing the second shield to travelalong the pair of guide channels to cover the second portion of theopening. Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding computersystems, apparatus, and computer programs recorded on one or morecomputer storage devices, each configured to perform the actions of themethods.

Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Themethod further includes: providing one or more locking mechanismsconfigured to lock the first and second shields after each of the firstand second shields has traveled a distance along the pair of guidechannels; and locking, via the one or more locking mechanisms, the firstand second shields after each of the first and second shields hastraveled a distance along the pair of guide channels. The method whereat least one of the one or more locking mechanisms includes aninflatable tube, inflator device, and anchor point. The method where:the first actuator includes a spring to deploy the first shield from thefirst housing, and the second actuator includes a spring to deploy thesecond shield from the second housing. The method where: the firstactuator includes pyrotechnics to deploy the first shield from the firsthousing, and the second actuator includes pyrotechnics to deploy thesecond shield from the second housing. The method where: the firstshield is wound into a roll shape around a first winding shaft while inthe first housing and, after the step of deploying the first shield, thefirst shield is drawn from the winding shaft to travel along the pair ofguide channels so as to cover the first portion of the opening, and thesecond shield is wound into a roll shape around a second winding shaftwhile in the second housing and, after the step of deploying the secondshield, the second shield is drawn from the second winding shaft totravel along the pair of guide channels so as to cover the secondportion of the opening. The method where: the first shield is folded ina Z-type configuration while in the first housing and, after the step ofdeploying the first shield, the first shield folds travel along the pairof guide channels so as to spread out in a planar manner to cover thefirst portion of the opening, and the second shield is folded in aZ-type configuration while in the second housing and, after the step ofdeploying the second shield, the second shield folds travel along thepair of guide channels so as to spread out in a planar manner to coverthe second portion of the opening.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages ofthe present teachings are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription for carrying out the teachings when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of asystem to deploy a roof containment system;

FIG. 2A shows a top-down environmental view of a vehicle in motion;

FIG. 2B shows a side view of a vehicle during a rollover event;

FIG. 2C shows a back-end view of a vehicle during a rollover event;

FIG. 3 shows a top-down view of an exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of another exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 4B shows a perspective view of an exemplary containment systemmodule according to one aspect;

FIG. 4C shows a perspective view of the exemplary containment system ofFIG. 4A according to another aspect;

FIG. 4D shows a perspective cross-sectional view of an exemplary guidechannel of the exemplary containment system of FIG. 4C according to oneaspect;

FIG. 5A shows a perspective view of another exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 5B shows a perspective view of an exemplary actuator according toone aspect;

FIG. 6A shows a perspective view of another exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 6B shows a perspective view of an exemplary actuator according toone aspect;

FIG. 7A shows a perspective view of another exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 7B shows a perspective view of an exemplary shield according to oneaspect;

FIG. 8A shows a perspective view of another exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 8B shows a side view of an exemplary shield according to oneaspect;

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of another exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 10 shows a top-down view of another exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 10A shows a top-down view of an exemplary locking mechanismaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 10B shows a top-down view of another exemplary locking mechanismaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 10C shows a top-down view of the exemplary locking mechanism ofFIG. 10B according to another aspect;

FIG. 10D shows a top-down view of another exemplary locking mechanismaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 11A shows a top-down view of another exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 11B shows a top-down view of the containment system of FIG. 11Aaccording to another aspect;

FIG. 12A shows a top-down view of another exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 12B shows a top-down view of the containment system of FIG. 12Aaccording to another aspect;

FIG. 13 shows a top-down view of another exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 14 shows a top-down view of another exemplary containment systemaccording to one aspect;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart depicting an embodiment of a method to deploy acontainment system of a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. It is to beunderstood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely examplesand other embodiments can take various and alternative forms. Thefigures are not necessarily to scale; some features could be exaggeratedor minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore,specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not tobe interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the presentinvention. As those of ordinary skill in the art will understand,various features illustrated and described with reference to any one ofthe figures can be combined with features illustrated in one or moreother figures to produce embodiments that are not explicitly illustratedor described. The combinations of features illustrated providerepresentative embodiments for typical applications. Variouscombinations and modifications of the features consistent with theteachings of this disclosure, however, could be desired for particularapplications or implementations.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and specifically to FIG. 1, a blockdiagram of an exemplary system to deploy a containment system on a roofpanel of a vehicle 10 is generally indicated by reference numeral 100.As shown, the disclosed system 100 may be located within a vehicle(e.g., an automobile, truck, boat, airplane, etc.) and includes acontroller 101, a power supply 102, a memory 103, RollOver Sensor (ROS)104, and a containment system 105. In certain embodiments, system 100may further include a communication device such as, but not limited to,an antenna system (not shown). However, system 100 is not limited to theaforementioned configuration and may be configured to include additionalelements and/or omit one or more of the aforementioned elements.

Controller 101 essentially controls the overall operation and functionof system 100. Upon reading and executing one or more executableinstructions, controller 101 may control, send, and/or receiveinformation from one or more of memory 103, ROS 104, and containmentsystem 105 of system 100. The controller 101 may include one or morefrom among a processor, a microprocessor, a central processing unit(CPU), a graphics processor, Application Specific Integrated Circuits(ASICs), Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), state machines, and acombination of hardware, software and firmware components.

Power supply 102 provides power to one or more of the controller 101,memory 103, ROS 104, and containment system 105. The power supply 102may include one or more from a battery, an outlet, a capacitor, a solarenergy cell, a generator, a wind energy device, an alternator, etc.

Memory 103 is configured for recording information, storing information,and retrieving information used by system 100. Memory 103 may includethe executable instructions configured to be read and executed bycontroller 101 so as to perform the functions of system 100.

Memory 103 may include one or more from among optical disks, CD-ROMs(Compact Disc-Read Only Memories), magneto-optical disks, ROMs (ReadOnly Memories), RAMs (Random Access Memories), EPROMs (ErasableProgrammable Read Only Memories), EEPROMs (Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read Only Memories), magnetic or optical cards, flashmemory, cache memory, and other type of media/machine-readable mediumsuitable for storing machine-executable instructions.

As represented by FIGS. 2A through 2C, the ROS 104 may be one or moresensors in the form of an electronic hardware component connected withat least one of the vehicle dynamics systems (e.g., the Sensing andDiagnostic Module (SDM), airbag control module (ACM), the vehicle'ssuspension system, stability system, etc.) and may be located throughoutthe vehicle. ROS 104 is configured to sense for certain changesoccurring when vehicle 10 encounters a rollover event (i.e., when thevehicle 10 tilts 45 degrees beyond its horizontal axis/center ofgravity—as represented by 12—and without any indication it will fallback onto all four wheels). As is generally known, for example, ROS 104can detect values such as, but not limited to, vehicle yaw rate, rollrate, acceleration, speed, and sideslip angle to predict an impendingvehicle rollover. When an impeding rollover is predicted, the ROS 104will send a rollover event signal to controller 101.

Referring back to FIG. 1, according to an exemplary aspect, controller101 is configured to receive the rollover event signal from ROS 104 andsubsequently communicate a deployment signal to the containment system105. As shown in FIG. 3, in one embodiment, the deployment signal causestwo shields to rapidly close an opening 14 through the vehicle's roofpanel (e.g., sunroof, moon roof, etc.). As such, system 100 provides acountermeasure to prevent occupant ejection through the opening 14 aswell as prevent objects (e.g., road debris) from entering into thevehicle cabin. Controller 101 may be further configured to collaboratewith memory 103 and/or the communication device to send a remote partycommunications comprising the developed topographical data. It should beunderstood this embodiment of containment system 105 discloses theshields closing lengthwise, from the front and aft of vehicle 10.However, it should be understood that containment system 105 may beconfigured to cause the shields to close crosswise, from both sides ofvehicle 10.

As shown in FIGS. 4A through 4D, an exemplary embodiment of containmentsystem 105 includes a pair of identical Deployable Roof ContainmentSystem (DRCS) modules 16 located at opposite ends of a pair of parallelguide channels 18 (i.e., a first and second end of the channels) thatare installed on opposite sides of opening 14. As such, each module 16includes a housing 20 with a shield 22 located therein. Each housing 20may be installed onto the interior side (e.g., beneath upholstery) ofthe vehicle 10 roof panel or may be installed on the exterior of thevehicle 10. Moreover, each housing 20 maybe constructed of a rigidmaterial such as, but not limited to, plastic, metal, or fiberglass.

Each shield 22 is configured to deploy from its respective housing 20and is operatively connected to an actuator 24 through a pin 26. As aresult, after the implementation of actuator 24, the shields 22 candeploy from their respective housing 20 and travel along the guidechannels in a lateral direction 28, until they meet in the middle of theguide channels 18 and fully block off opening 14. In this embodiment,with additional reference to FIG. 4B, shields 22 may be made of aflexible material (e.g., plastic, fabric, Teflon, etc.) and may be woundinto a roll shape around a winding shaft 30 located centrally withinhousing 20. As such, upon being deployed from housing 20, shields 22 aredrawn from the rotating winding shafts 30 and can travel laterally viathe guide channels 18.

With additional reference to FIG. 4D, the guide channels 18 can beinstalled at the edges of roof panel 32 that define the opening 14. Asshown, each guide channel 18 may be tiered such that a pane of glass 34is installed above the channel in which shields 22 travel. Thisconfiguration ensures that the glass 34 will be restricted fromtraveling into the vehicle interior after deployment of the shields 22.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, containment system 105 includes fouridentical actuators 24, each being in proximity from the external sidesof guide channels 18 (e.g., approximately an inch) and at one of thechannel ends. As such, the installed actuators 24 are oriented tosubstantially surround opening 14. The actuators 24 are also connectedto controller 101 (e.g., via a vehicle bus), which can command theiractivation, and thus deployment of the shields 22, when the vehicle 10is going through a rollover event. In this embodiment, the actuators 24will implement pyrotechnics to deploy the shields 22 from theircorresponding housing 20. For example, each actuator 24 may include anelongated tube with propulsion component located therein (e.g.,inflammable gas)—as is generally known. As follows, when an activationcommand is sent from controller 101 (e.g., an electric signal), thepropulsion component will ignite to fire a small explosive charge andcreate pressure to shear the pin 26 away and cause it to move laterallyalong the length of the tube (which will in turn cause the correspondingshield 22 to move laterally along the guide channels 18). This varietyof pyrotechnic actuator can be considered in a normally-closed (NC)configuration.

As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in another embodiment, each actuator 24′may incorporate a housed spring 36 to deploy the shields 22 from theircorresponding housing 20. For example, each actuator 24′ may releasespring 36 upon a deployment command and allow the spring 36 to shear thepin 26 away and cause it to move laterally along the length of the tubeand thus the corresponding guide channel 18 (similar to the previousembodiment).

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the shields 22 may be embodied to have ashingled flaps configuration. As a result, each shield 22 is acomposition of numerous rectangular flap sections which overlap whilewithin housing 20. Moreover, upon deployment, the flaps will each bemoved laterally along the guide channels 18 to spread apart into ashingled manner (i.e., in which a minority portion of each flap overlapsan adjacent flap), until the shields 22 fully cover opening 14. As shownin FIGS. 8A and 8B, the shields 22 may be embodied to be folded into aZ-type configuration while within housing 20. As such, the shield 22 hasa zig-zag look where the shield is sectionally folded into flaps whilewithin housing 20. Moreover, upon deployment, the folds will be drawnout laterally along the guide channels 18 to spread out flat in a planarmanner, until the shields 22 fully cover opening 14. As shown in FIG. 9,containment system 105 may include a scissor lever mechanism 38 (toggletype) that is connected to housing 20 and shield 22 (e.g., via pin 26).The scissor lever 38 helps stabilize shield 22 while traveling alongguide channels 18. Scissor lever 38 also supports smooth travel forshield 22 along and helps prevent jamming during such travel. Forexample, scissor lever 38 may be constructed from linked, foldingsupport beams having a criss-cross ‘X’ pattern. Skilled artisans willreadily understand the various configurations and componentry oftoggle-type scissor lever mechanisms, as they are known in this field.

As shown in FIG. 10, an embodiment of containment system 105 canincorporate a pulleys 40 to assist in the deployment of the shields 22.As such, each actuator 24 will be configured to pull on a correspondingline 42 that is wrapped around one of the pulleys 40 to cause deploymentof one of the shields 22. In this embodiment, it should be understoodthe actuator may be considered to have a normally-open (NO)configuration. With reference to FIGS. 10A through 10D, containmentsystem 105 may include one or more types of locking mechanisms 44, 46,48 to lock the shields 22 together after meeting with each other in themiddle of the guide channels 18 and restrict the shields 22 from furthermovement. These locking mechanisms 44, 46, 48 system may be disposed inthe guide channels 18, along the ends of the shields 22, or at thelocation where the shields 22 meet. As such, the locking mechanisms 44,46, 48 will lock the shields 22 together after they have met in themiddle. For example, locking mechanism 44 may be embodied as a snaplocking system in which a male snap locking tab 44 a inserts into andinterlocks with a female snap locking tab 44 b. In another example,locking mechanism 46 may be embodied as a system having a spring biasedlock pin 46 a, located on the sides of the guide channels 18, thatinsertably interlocks into a notch 46 b that is located on the sides ofthe end edges of each shield 22. It should be understood that each guidepost may include two spring biased lock pins 46 a to insert into acorrespond notch 46 b to accomplish this effect. Moreover, to supportlocking mechanisms 44 and 46, the end edges of each shield 22 may behemmed with sheet metal rods 50 for stiffness purposes. In anotherexample, locking mechanism 48 may be embodied as a structural guidemember long the body of each guide channel 48. As such, operating in asimilar manner as a seatbelt pretensioner, the structural guide memberrestricts each shield 22 from moving in a reverse lateral directionafter traveling along the guide channels in a lateral direction 28.

As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, an embodiment of containment system 105can incorporate a locking mechanism system embodied as a pair ofinflatable tubes 52 operatively connected to a pair of inflator devices54 and anchor points 56. As such, after traveling their respectivelength along the guide channels, the inflator devices 54 may activate toinject gas into the inflatable tubes 52. The inflatable tubes 52 willfill with the gas and expand until locking into position via the anchorpoints 56, so as to completely block of a gap between the ends of eachshield 22. An embodiment of containment system 105 incorporating asingle shield 22 to cover opening 14 and a single inflatable tubelocking mechanism system 52 is shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B. This versionof containment system 105 operates in substantially the same manner asthose having two shields 22; however, as shown, the single shieldsection 22 (and inflatable tube 52) covers substantially all of theopening 14.

As shown in FIG. 13, containment system 10″ may include an alternativeconfiguration in which four shield 22″ sections meet to close opening14″. It should be understood, to accomplish this effect, system 10″ mayimplement two sets of guide channels 18″ and two sets of modules 16″,with the sets being positioned to form a square shape (as shown). Asshown in FIG. 14, containment system 10′″ may include an alternativefan-like configuration in which six shield 22′″ sections meet to closeopening. It should be understood, to accomplish this effect, system 10′″may implement multiple sets of guide channels 14′″ and multiple sets ofmodules 16′″, with the sets being positioned to form the shields 22 intoa fan shape (as shown).

Referring now to FIG. 15, a method 200 for deploying containment systembegins with the vehicle in an operational mode being referred to as 201.In step 210, ROS 104 senses the vehicle 10 is potentially experiencing arollover event. As discussed above, a rollover event may be one inwhich, the vehicle 10 has tilted past 45 degrees beyond its horizontalaxis (center of gravity) and without any indication the vehicle willreverse tilt back onto all four wheels (FIG. 2C). In this step, ROS 104will also transmit the rollover information to controller 101. In step220, controller 101 determines whether vehicle 10 is actuallyexperiencing a rollover event, and is thus fully rolling over (withoutany indication of the vehicle returning to its normal orientation). Ifit is determined that vehicle 12 is not experiencing a rollover event(the vehicle will reverse its tilt and return to its normal four wheelorientation), method 200 will return to considering the vehicle 12 beingin its normal mode of operation 201; otherwise, method 200 will move tostep 230. In step 230, controller 101 will send a deployment commandsignal to containment system 105. In this step, for example, asdiscussed above, each actuator 24 will collaborate to deploy the shields22 and the shields 22 will in turn travel along the guide channels 18 tocover opening 14 (i.e., a deployment event). As discussed above, incertain embodiments, a locking mechanism may be incorporated to lock theshields 22 in place after they block opening 14.

While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended thatthese embodiments describe all possible forms encompassed by the claims.The words used in the specification are words of description rather thanlimitation, and it is understood that various changes can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Aspreviously described, the features of various embodiments can becombined to form further embodiments of the invention that may not beexplicitly described or illustrated. While various embodiments couldhave been described as providing advantages or being preferred overother embodiments or prior art implementations with respect to one ormore desired characteristics, those of ordinary skill in the artrecognize that one or more features or characteristics can becompromised to achieve desired overall system attributes, which dependon the specific application and implementation. These attributes caninclude, but are not limited to cost, strength, durability, life cyclecost, marketability, appearance, packaging, size, serviceability,weight, manufacturability, ease of assembly, etc. As such, embodimentsdescribed as less desirable than other embodiments or prior artimplementations with respect to one or more characteristics are notoutside the scope of the disclosure and can be desirable for particularapplications.

Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,”“lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease ofdescription to describe one element or feature's relationship to anotherelement(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatiallyrelative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depictedin the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turnedover, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements orfeatures would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features.Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation ofabove and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptorsused herein interpreted accordingly.

None of the elements recited in the claims are intended to be ameans-plus-function element within the meaning of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f)unless an element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” inthe claim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A deployable containment system for a vehicleroof panel, the system comprising: a pair of guide channels installedalong two parallel edges of an opening through the vehicle roof panel,each guide channel of the pair having a first end and a second end; ahousing mounted to the first end of the pair of guide channels; a shieldconfigured to deploy from the housing and travel along the pair of guidechannels so as to cover at least a portion of the opening; and anactuator disposed in a substantially parallel relationship to both anexternal side of one guide channel of the pair and externally along oneedge of the parallel edges of the opening, wherein one end of theactuator is in proximity to the first end of the one guide channel ofthe pair and a second end of the actuator is in proximity to a pointalong the external side of the one guide channel of the pair, whereinthe actuator is outside the perimeter of the opening, and wherein theactuator is configured to deploy the shield from the housing such thatthe shield moves parallel to the elongated length of the actuator aftera deployment event.
 2. The deployable containment system of claim 1,further comprising one or more locking mechanisms configured to lock theshield after having traveled a distance along the pair of guidechannels.
 3. The deployable containment system of claim 2, wherein oneof the one or more locking mechanisms comprises an inflatable tube,inflator device, and anchor point.
 4. The deployable containment systemof claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a spring to deploy the shieldfrom the housing.
 5. The deployable containment system of claim 1,wherein the actuator comprises pyrotechnics to deploy the shield fromthe housing.
 6. The deployable containment system of claim 1, whereinthe shield is wound into a roll shape around a winding shaft while inthe housing and, upon deployment, the shield is drawn from the windingshaft to travel along the pair of guide channels so as to cover at leastthe portion of the opening.
 7. The deployable containment system ofclaim 1, wherein the deployment event is an indication that the vehiclerollover sensing system has predicted a rollover event.
 8. A deployablecontainment system for a vehicle roof panel, the system comprising: apair of guide channels installed along two parallel edges of an openingthrough the vehicle roof panel, each guide channel of the pair having afirst end and a second end; a first housing mounted to the first end ofthe pair of guide channels; a second housing mounted to the second endof the pair of guide channels; a first shield configured to deploy fromthe first housing and travel along the pair of guide channels so as tocover a first portion of the opening; a second shield configured todeploy from the second housing and travel along the pair of guidechannels so as to cover a second portion of the opening; a firstactuator disposed in a substantially parallel relationship to both anexternal side of a corresponding guide channel of the pair andexternally along a corresponding edge of the parallel edges of theopening, wherein a first end of the first actuator is in proximity tothe first end of the corresponding guide channel of the pair and asecond end of the first actuator is in proximity to a point along theexternal side of the corresponding guide channel of the pair, whereinthe first actuator is located outside the perimeter of the opening, andwherein the first actuator is configured to deploy the first shield fromthe first housing such that the first shield moves parallel to theelongated length of the first actuator after a deployment event; and asecond actuator disposed in parallel to both an external side of acorresponding guide channel of the pair and externally along acorresponding edge of the parallel edges of the opening, wherein a firstend of the second actuator is in proximity to the first end of thecorresponding guide channel of the pair and a second end of the secondactuator is in proximity to a point along the external side of thecorresponding guide channel of the pair, wherein the second actuator islocated outside the perimeter of the opening, and wherein the secondactuator is configured to deploy the second shield from the secondhousing such that the second shield moves parallel to the elongatedlength of the second actuator after a deployment event.
 9. Thedeployable containment system of claim 8, further comprising one or morelocking mechanisms configured to lock the first and second shields aftereach of the first and second shields has traveled a distance along thepair of guide channels.
 10. The deployable containment system of claim9, wherein at least one of the one or more locking mechanisms comprisesan inflatable tube, inflator device, and anchor point.
 11. Thedeployable containment system of claim 8, further comprising: a firstscissor lever mechanism disposed between the pair of guide channelsproximate to the first end, the first scissor lever mechanism connectedto the first shield, the first scissor lever mechanism configured toextend along the pair of guide channels so as to support travel of thefirst shield along the pair of guide channels to cover the first portionof the opening; and a second scissor lever mechanism disposed betweenthe pair of guide channels proximate to the second end, the secondscissor lever mechanism connected to the second shield, the secondscissor lever mechanism configured to extend along the pair of guidechannels so as to support travel of the second shield along the pair ofguide channels to cover the second portion of the opening.
 12. Thedeployable containment system of claim 8, wherein: the first actuatorcomprises a spring to deploy the first shield from the first housing;and the second actuator comprises a spring to deploy the second shieldfrom the second housing.
 13. The deployable containment system of claim8, wherein: the first actuator comprises pyrotechnics to deploy thefirst shield from the first housing; and the second actuator comprisespyrotechnics to deploy the second shield from the second housing. 14.The deployable containment system of claim 8, wherein the deploymentevent is an indication that the vehicle rollover sensing system haspredicted a rollover event.
 15. The deployable containment system ofclaim 8, wherein: the first shield is a plurality of flap sections thatoverlap while in the first housing and, upon deployment, travel alongthe pair of guide channels so as to spread out in a shingled manner tocover the first portion of the opening; and the second shield is aplurality of flap sections that overlap while in the second housing and,upon deployment, travel along the pair of guide channels so as to spreadout in a shingled manner to cover the second portion of the opening. 16.The deployable containment system of claim 8, wherein: the first shieldis folded in a Z-type configuration while in the first housing and, upondeployment, the first shield folds travel along the pair of guidechannels so as to spread out in a planar manner to cover the firstportion of the opening; and the second shield is folded in a Z-typeconfiguration while in the second housing and, upon deployment, thesecond shield folds travel along the pair of guide channels so as tospread out in a planar manner to cover the second portion of theopening.
 17. The deployable containment system of claim 8, wherein: thefirst shield is wound into a roll shape around a first winding shaftwhile in the first housing and, upon deployment, the first shield isdrawn from the winding shaft to travel along the pair of guide channelsso as to cover the first portion of the opening; and the second shieldis wound into a roll shape around a second winding shaft while in thesecond housing and, upon deployment, the second shield is drawn from thesecond winding shaft to travel along the pair of guide channels so as tocover the second portion of the opening.